Category: Engineering

Summer Internship -or- Entry Level Engineer/Landscape Architect

S&A is seeking qualified applicants for a paid internship or full time entry level position to support the civil engineering and site development team. This opportunity will work directly with both Civil Engineers and Landscape Architects. Interested candidates should have the following:

Intern candidates: Completed junior year of a bachelor’s program in either civil engineering or landscape architecture

Take an inside look at the Putnam Block Redevelopment project in Bennington, VT. Stevens & Associates and M&S Development are excited to provide services for this complex site transformation and downtown revitalization project.

S&A began working with Cogswell’s Grant, a 165-acre historic Coastal Farm in Essex Massachusetts, which is owned and operated by Historic New England. The existing parcel was originally part of a 300 acre land grant from Ipswich to Jonathan Cogswell is 1636.

The property which currently consists of a farm house constructed in 1728 that now serves as an American folk art museum, as well as a series of barn structures built throughout the 1800’s; the oldest of which has been converted to a Visitor center.

Left to Right: (Left) Main Barn built by prominent Essex shipbuilder Adam Boyd sometime before 1863. (Center) Connector Barn originally built as single-story sometime in the 1870’s, later converted to two-story by 1894. (Right) Milking Barn; the oldest structure of the three-barn complex, built in the late 1700’s.

This is an early example of wood ductwork to provide better ventilation to the cattle below. Ducts and cupolas were added to barns as advancements in milling offered more weather tight wood clapboards to replace the early wood board siding.

The prominent faces of structures which were often more colorfully painted with higher end finishes, while less significant exteriors were often completed with more economical colors and finishes.

Finally, this image is of the detailing of the timber frames of the Main Barn revealing influences from shipbuilding.

A special ‘thank you’ to S&A structural engineer, Ben Harwood, PE for providing these images and information.

Congratulations to Ben Harwood, P.E. for earning his license to practice as a Professional Engineer in the State of Vermont. Ben is a dedicated member of S&A’s Structural Team and enjoys supporting local school STEM programs and various organizations.

Thank you Leland and Gray Union Middle School for the opportunity to mentor 7th and 8th grade physical science class students preparing for the upcoming Battle Physics Challenge and Tournament. Brud Sanderson, PE and Principal at S&A has enjoyed evaluating the students’ process and looks forward to reviewing their project. Good Luck!

Snow Block Project Update – It’s underway and there’s a lot happening! S&A Engineers, Serenity Wolf, PE and Andrea Ameden, EI met with ReArch, construction manager and site contractor, Bernie LaRock & Son for water testing of the main and sprinkler lines. In addition, footings and foundation walls were being formed by Valley Concrete.

Stevens & Associates is excited to provide architectural and engineering services for another great Windham & Windsor Housing Trust project. The Snow Block will offer affordable housing and replace a vacant lot adding to the streetscape and extending the downtown fabric on Flat Street. The design will respect the distinct architectural form of Brattleboro’s downtown district.

S&A extends a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to New England Youth Theatre for the opportunity to work on the NEYT outdoor amphitheater and garden classroom project. We hope everyone will enjoy this beautiful space for years to come.

Congratulations to Windham Windsor Housing Trust and everyone involved in the Great River Terrace ‘neighborhood’ project located in north Brattleboro. S&A is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the first permanent supportive housing project in southern Vermont.

Andrea Ameden ~ As witness to the destruction that Hurricane Irene inflicted on roadway and bridge infrastructure in her hometown of Bondville, Vermont, Andrea was motivated to pursue a career in civil engineering beginning by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Vermont. Her studies focused on the structural analysis of steel, timber, reinforced concrete, and river engineering hydraulics and design practices. Andrea’s senior year capstone project involved designing a pedestrian bridge to cross the Battenkill River and connect two ends of the Riverwalk trail. From this, she developed strong communication skills while coordinating client and user wants balanced with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources regulations. In addition to her studies, Andrea was President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – UVM Student Chapter, as well as a dedicated volunteer for the UVM Living-Learning Program serving Chittenden County. Andrea’s internships provided significant experience with data collection and synthesis producing extensive documents on the research of water pollutants, stormwater infrastructure conditions, and traffic count studies. She is enthusiastic to join the S&A team, which encourages collaboration, innovation, professional development, and community involvement.

Ben Harwood, EI uses a resistance drill as part of a structural assessment for the historic Ashfield, MA Town Hall Steeple project. S&A is pleased to offer clients this service when conducting structural assessments for historic and non-historic buildings with wood frame construction. Resistance drills, more commonly used by the forestry industry, are becoming a useful and reliable tool for structural engineers to determine the condition of historic, heavy timber and wood frame buildings.

From a very early age, Arelis Quinones was introduced to art, culture and architectural design igniting her passion for design within different cultures and historic preservation. She broadened her interests by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico. These interests led her on a journey to Keene State College, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture. During her time at Keene State, the Thorne Sagendorph Art Gallery displayed one of her collaborative artwork pieces. Arelis brings to the S&A architectural team a multicultural perspective formed by her love for art, culture and architecture, as well as her knowledge of sustainable design and architectural history.

Taylor Shulda, Landscape Architect Designer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His studies included freshwater ecology, landscape patterns and process, site engineering, and construction technology. During his design studios at UMass, Taylor explored large-scale design work utilizing new urbanism and sustainable design practices. He has experience working on small-scale design work and portfolio-building projects working in the field building and installing hardscapes. Taylor is currently working toward his licensure, and is blending his studio with his field skills to create designs that ensure a strong, clear communication between architect and contractor.

Thank You! S&A is proud to accept the Vermont Business Magazine’s 2018 Best of Business Award for Best Engineering Firm. Our goal is to continue to provide smart and responsible design to strengthen and improve our communities.

Jeb Wallace-Brodeur / Staff Photo Hamilton Hodgman, an architect with Stevens & Associates in Brattleboro, assesses the windows Wednesday of a state-owned building in Montpelier. Many of the building’s windows are nearly…

S&A is excited to co-sponsor an evening of learning and networking with DevelopSpringfield, M&S Development, and CNU New England. Please join us April 10th for the following presentation: TRANSFORMING DOWNTOWNS – Combining urban design with economic strategies to rebuild downtowns, and a *bonus* workshop: PROJECT PRO FORMA WORKSHOP.

Hamilton (Ham) Hodgman, PE and Project Manager for Stevens & Associates will be presenting at IBC Training January 24. This seminar will focus on IBC Chapter 17 Special Inspections in Vermont. Ham’s session will cover the areas of Reinforced Concrete, Structural Steel, and Fire Proofing for primary building systems.

The Brattleboro Area Middle School (BAMS) invited professionals from Stevens & Associates, P.C. (S&A) to connect with 8th grade students participating in the Technology & Design exploratory program. In light of recent natural disasters and the refugee crisis, the students were challenged to consider the question: How might we design safe and sustainable shelters for displaced families to live well? Students used the design thinking process to imagine, plan and create their projects to address issues such as: flooding, access to safe drinking water, excessive heat and safety. Throughout the process, students practiced their problem-solving skills using everyday materials and continuously improved upon their designs. After the models were completed, the students hosted a Shelter Design Showcase sharing their designs and experiences with peers, school staff and community members.

The architects and engineers from S&A were very impressed by each student’s display and enjoyed meeting them to evaluate the structures. Diane Abate, an architect at S&A stated, “Students took into account real-life environmental, social and economic challenges as they thought about what materials to use, what renewable or reusable resources were available, and considered how and where their structures would be built.” While engaging with the students, the S&A team encouraged each one to embrace design difficulties and explore options leading to alternative solutions. One student reflected, “When I started I was just going to use a regular flat roof, but then I realized water would just build up on the roof. I created a dome shape top to drain the water off of the house, so the roof does not cave in.”

S&A believes in the value of relationship building with local schools and supports STEM programs that introduce science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to students. BAMS Technical Education Teacher, Daisy Frederick is looking forward to continuing this important connection and even expanding the experience for next semester. “I am truly inspired by the creativity and imagination of my students and am so excited to be able to expose them to career opportunities in our local community,” Frederick explained. In addition to evaluating and discussing each student’s model, the architects and engineers answered questions and shared stories about their own educational and professional journey.

Erin Fajans has returned to her native southern Vermont to continue her career as an engineer. She received a Master of Civil Engineering Degree from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Vermont Technical College. In addition, Erin was the recipient of the Vermont Technical College Student of the Year and Architectural Engineering Technician of the Year awards. Her previous experience as a mechanical designer and structural engineer included analyzing existing structural framing systems, new platform and foundation designs, as well as modifications to repurpose existing warehouses within the food processing industry. She is currently focusing her efforts on the structural design of commercial and residential projects, and looks forward to applying her experience in commercial construction to her interest of historic preservation and reuse projects within downtown communities.

Stevens & Associates congratulates Serenity Wolf, P.E. for earning her license to practice as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Vermont. Serenity approaches each project with a drive to provide sound solutions that not only meet local and state requirements, but include an outlook of social responsibility and create a sense of place for businesses, residents and visitors. Her continual motivation comes from a desire to apply her technical proficiency, leadership experience and love for community to every aspect of her life. S&A is proud to have Serenity on their team.

Stevens & Associates congratulates the Bradley House residents and staff for their recent groundbreaking celebration on May 1, 2017. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony was S&A Architect and Project Manager, Jonathan Saccoccio. Stevens & Associates is providing design & engineering services for the building expansion and grounds beautification project of this residential care facility built in the 1860s and located in Brattleboro, VT.

February 24th, Bob Stevens, a graduate of the University of Vermont will be presenting the ‘Role of the Engineer in Society’ sharing his personal experience as an engineer, commercial property owner, and civic-minded community leader. This interactive workshop with students will discuss the pivotal event that inspired Bob to merge engineering with development to create a model for initiating and funding downtown revitalization projects.

The University of Vermont ASCE – Student Chapter will be competing in the 2017 New England Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition April 7th – 9th. S&A staff member, Jamie Martell, a graduate of UVM, competed in the 2015 and 2016 competitions and found the events to add practical value to his undergraduate experience.

Click HERE more information on the UVM ASCE – Student Chapter.

Click HERE to support the fundraising campaign for the 2017 New England Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition.

Bob Stevens is delighted to present at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) annual dinner meeting for the Vermont and New Hampshire sections. This presentation will include an overview of two mixed-use design projects as case studies to explore how engineers can contribute to communities through projects and how the role of the engineer can reach new levels within the industry to accomplish the “big picture”.